Miles Bailey Gets Down on One Knee

About the Book:

Title: Owen Bailey Gets Down on One Knee
Series: Another Bailey Brother #3
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: April 29th, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

I am Delaney Jones, courageous enough to defy my mother, fearless enough to leave my successful rock band, and daring enough to propose to a perfect stranger.

Delaney:
Miles wasn’t planned.
Which kind of made him perfect.

Sure, I’d just said no—to a load of handsome men on a reality show designed to find me a husband, but I didn’t want any of them.

I don’t want Miles either—at least, I think I don’t. It’s the perfect scenario because, unlike all those guys on that show, he doesn’t want me either. No broken hearts.

Can’t we all just play nice? A convenient, image-building marriage without all the bitter rejection? That’s all I’m asking.

Yep, Miles is perfect for the job.
Or at least he would be if my heart would stop betraying me every time he walked into the room.

Miles:
She gave me one job.
One.
Don’t fall in love with her.

That’s all I have to do and my stagnant career is going to take off, like a rocket.
As long as I follow the rules.

But Delaney never mentioned how very difficult those rules would be to follow. She makes them difficult. If I’d known I wasn’t just entering a marriage of convenience, but a DEFCON two marriage, I may have thought twice before slipping that gold band on her finger.

Marry the girl. Check.
Be seen with the girl. Check.
Don’t fall in love with the girl. Crap.

Book Review:

This was such a cute read! Marriage of convenience is an adorable trope, and Atkinson pulls together the romance well. I loved watching Miles and Delaney connect and fall in love.

Miles was a sweetheart! I loved him right from the start, and his clear love for his family and students was adorable. I really liked his more gentle spirit, but he was still willing to stand up for Delaney. They were really cute together!

Delaney was a fun character! I had a hard time understanding her character at first, but I realized part of it was some past hurts. She was a fighter, and I liked how willing she was to support Miles. She wanted to help him the way he helped everyone else. Miles and Delaney were super sweet, and even though their romance was fast, it didn’t feel rushed.

The Bailey family was one of my favorite parts of Owen’s book, and I loved them in this book too! They’re so close with one another, and the sister in laws fit in perfectly too. The plot in this one is well paced, and the story made me want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this closed door romcom!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Keep It Together

About the Book:

Title: Keep It Together
Series: Sworn to Loathe You #4
Author: Rachel John
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

It’s not awkward unless we make it awkward.

Carmen… I’ve forgiven Isaac for being a jerk to me when we were kids, but while my grudge against him is gone, my fears are alive and well. I don’t care how much chemistry there is between us. I’m done with guys and their commitment issues, and I’ve found a way to make life a whole lot easier.

I friend-zone them. Every single one.

It’s worked super well. Until now.

Isaac isn’t like other guys. He knows all about the friendship-only box I’ve shoved him into and constantly teases me about it. It’s not the elephant in the room. It’s his favorite joke.

The line between goofiness and flirtation is growing thinner with every interaction. Isaac hasn’t just charmed my parents and all the senior citizens we pick up for bingo night. He’s also winning me over, and I’m terrified.

Isaac… I couldn’t have designed a person more perfectly apt to make me lose my mind than the grown-up version of Carmen Ortega. I already knew she was funny, adventurous, and kind to a fault. But adding attraction to that is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire.

Telling her how I feel will send her running in the other direction, so I make jokes. If she wants to see the truth in the words, it’s right there.

She can try to set me up with her friends, sic her neighborhood matchmaker on me, and ban me from bringing her flowers. For now.

I won’t step a toe across the line without her permission, but I’m not afraid of the long game. Carmen is the goal, and I plan to show her what being friends forever really means.

Book Review:

This was such a fun read! I love friends to lovers, and this one does not disappoint.

I loved Carmen from the beginning. She had so much fun quirkiness in her, and it was interesting to read about a character who embraced her quirkiness but still struggled with insecurities. That felt really real and relatable to me. And her family was so much fun! I wish we could have seen more of them, but they were all hilarious side characters that were very overly invested in her life.

Isaac was a sweetheart! He adored Carmen, and it was clear that he loved her and wanted to be with her. I really liked how their relationship felt balanced. Isaac was a people pleaser, but Carmen forced him to express himself when he otherwise would have kept quiet. And his family was so sweet! I’m hoping for some other books about them.

I would definitely recommend this sweet, closed door romcom! It’s a slow burn romance with no third act breakup. It’s a fairly relaxed read, but you might be screaming at the characters to kiss already 😉 Perfect for fans of friends to lovers!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

The Frost Gate

About the Book:

Title: The Frost Gate
Series: Faerie Tale Romances #5
Author: Hanna Sandvig
Release Date: January 24th, 2024
Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Mirror mirror made of gold,
Here’s the story you were never told . . .

I’ve always suspected some sort of mystery surrounding my adoption—I mean, who doesn’t remember anything before they were five? But the tall, dark, axe-wielding fae huntsman showing up at my door yelling that I’m a lost princess and the Unseelie Queen is coming to kill me? That I didn’t see coming.

It’s hard to argue with a pack of evil wolves on your doorstep, so I grab my sword, my cookbook, and my seven chickens (yes, you heard me right), and follow him to Faerie. I’m all for not being eaten by wolves. I’m less excited about the fact that the huntsman seems to think I’m the only one who can defeat the Unseelie Queen and save Faerie. I’m not powerful or magical, even if my baking skills are legendary.

But the longer I stay in Faerie, the more I want to help its people. And the more time I spend with the terrifyingly handsome huntsman, the more I want to convince him that he’s who I need by my side while I do. He’d do anything to protect me, but it’s my heart he’s putting in danger.

Do I have what it takes to go from baking pies to saving kingdoms? Who will take care of the chickens if I fail?

Book Review:

What a charming book! I was so excited to read this one. I have read all of the Faerie Tale Romances and the set up was perfect! Neve has always suspected some sort of mystery around her adoption, who doesn’t remember anything before they were five? But the tall, dark, axe-wielding fae huntsman showing up at her door yelling that’s she’s a lost princess and the Unseelie Queen is coming to kill her is not what she expected. It’s hard to argue with a pack of evil wolves on her doorstep, so she grabs her sword, her cookbook, and her seven chickens to follow him to Faerie. She’s not interested in being eaten by wolves, but is less excited about the fact that the huntsman seems to think she’s the only one who can defeat the Unseelie Queen and save Faerie. She’s not powerful or magical, even if her baking skills are legendary. But the longer Neve is in Faerie, the more she wants to help its people. And the more time she spends with the terrifyingly handsome huntsman, the more she wants to convince him that he’s who she needs by her side when she does. He would do anything to protect her, but it’s her heart he’s putting in danger. Can she go from baking pies to saving kingdoms?

This is such a cozy and charming fairytale retelling! Neve was a lovely narrator. She felt realistic and she was so kind. Her heart for the people of Faerie was so evident and her chickens! Loved them and their little personalities! All of the animals in this were so fun and it really added to the cottage-core fairytale vibes! I also loved her vulnerability,though she was a protector, she felt her weaknesses. Kylian was the perfect grumpy foil to Neve’s sunshine. I adored how protective he was of her and how he truly cared. He had to sacrifice a lot to protect her and felt the weight of how he had to do so. Their relationship was so sweet! They stood by each other and made one another stronger.

All of the other characters were amazing! I loved seeing old friends again, especially from Neve’s perspective! As someone who read the other books in the series, I loved seeing the connections! I loved meeting new characters too, the dwarves! All of the Snow White references were also so lovely. Overall, I loved this charming fairytale romance and watching Neve find her place in Faerie! It is romantasy story with some fantasy violence and only kissing. .

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

The Art of Falling in Love with Your Brother’s Best Friend

About the Book:

Title: The Art of Falling in Love with Your Brother’s Best Friend
Series: Sweetkiss Creek Series #4
Author: Anne Kemp
Release Date: March 20th, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

All’s fair in love and war…until your brother brings his bad boy, ice hockey playing best friend into your life.

Riley: I’m pouring all my savings into launching my own catering business, so the last thing I need is distraction. Even if he is six feet five inches tall, plays ice hockey, and is probably one of the most intriguing, and also maddening, people I’ve met. Ever.

People say he’s grumpy, but to me, he’s funny and kind, too. He’s misunderstood and even though he’s one of the most famous players coming up in the ranks right now, he doesn’t feel seen by those he loves…and I get that. But I’ve got my own fears: that my dreams fail, my mother keeps rejecting me, and the big one––my fear of commitment.

Jake: Getting suspended for ‘anger issues’ lands me in Sweetkiss Creek at my agent’s request. Licking my wounds and taking a time out sounds ridiculous…until I meet her. She’s feisty, sassy, and fiery enough that I swear she could melt the ice I skate on.

I never would have thought I’d find solace and an unexpected ally in the person who’s old bedroom I’m staying in. The last thing I want or need is to fall in love––but for some reason my heart isn’t getting the memo.

The Art of Falling in Love with Your Brother’s Best Friend is an annoyances to lovers, brother’s best friend closed door romcom with a grumpy hero, a French Bulldog named Posh, a rescue Collie-mix named Becks, and a turtle named Brad Pitt. Chemistry, swoony kisses, and tension collide in this small town romance!

Book Review:

This was such a cute read! I loved getting to see this adorable town come to life, and the sweet romance between Jake and Riley.

Riley was such a fun character, and I loved her spirit. It was fun to see her grow into herself and step out of her insecurities. Jake brought out some of her fire and independence which was cute to see. I thought Jake was such a sweetheart! At first glance, he seemed like a bit of a bad boy, but he had just had a rough couple of days. He was so sweet, and his care for his family was adorable.

I loved the family aspect of this! Travis and Riley had the sweetest relationship where they still felt like siblings, but they always had each other’s back. I appreciated how Riley’s relationship with her mom grew too. And Jake’s family is a cute addition. The side characters feel like family too, and I cannot wait for some more HEAs.

This was a quick and fun romcom that I would highly recommend! While the romance is very fast, it felt natural to me. And I loved how low stress it was completely perfect for my week.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Owen Bailey Needs Advice

About the Book:

Title: Owen Bailey Needs Advice
Series: Another Bailey Brother #2
Author: Jen Atkinson
Release Date: February 16th, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Dear Ask Annie,
I know my best friend is THE ONE. But how do I tell her that?

Annie Archer has a problem… She can’t get one email—one mind-boggling letter from her advice column out of her head. The one? Does the one even exist?

She should be able to answer this question, just like all the others. Except, she doesn’t have firsthand experience with the one. In fact, except for those few months back in tenth grade when she went temporarily insane and fell for her best friend—she’s never been in love. But then, her advice is based on research and facts, not experience.

So, time to research. Convincing Owen to be her hands-on experiment isn’t too difficult. She’ll set him up, use her guaranteed advice, and find him the girl of his dreams. It’s a foolproof plan… until everyone around them—including half her readers–start asking why she isn’t dating Owen.

Yep—Annie has BIG problems. At the top of the list—falling for her bestie.

Owen Bailey has—you guessed it—a problem. He’s found the one. He fell for his best friend a long time ago, even if she doesn’t know it. He’s been watching Annie go out with guy after guy, only to never be The Guy. And now she wants him to date other women? As in—not her?

He’ll do anything for Annie. But he doesn’t have to like it. Doesn’t she see that they were meant for each other? How can he convince her that he’s the one?

If he’s going to show Annie that it’s time for her to abandon her plans and see what’s right in front of her, he’ll need advice.

Lucky for him, he knows exactly who to ask.

Book Review:

This was really cute! The friends to lovers trope is one of my favorites, and I really liked watching Owen and Annie fall in love.

I liked Owen from the start! He was such a sweetheart, and I thought it was adorable how in love he was with Annie. He was such a genuinely nice guy, and I always love a cinnamon roll MC. His relationship with his students was hilarious too! I loved watching how invested they got in his and Annie’s relationship.

Annie had to grow on me a little. At first, I didn’t really understand her perspective, but as the book went on, I realized how she was struggling with her own insecurities. I liked watching her grow and learn to let go of the past. In so many ways, she was fearless but not in love.

Owen and Annie’s friendship was so sweet! From the start, their relationship felt very natural and normal and even their progression into more than friends worked really well. I loved how they learned more about each other even though they had know each other for forever. They realized that both of them had been unintentionally hiding things. But their families were instrumental in shedding light on some unspoken things. I loved both sets of family! They were hilarious, and they made me want to read Levi and Meredith’s book too.

The story in this one felt really well paced, but there were points where I was a bit frustrated with the characters. So, I felt a bit disconnected from the story. But it was a lot of fun, and I was rooting for Owen and Annie by the end of it. This is a clean romance perfect for fans of the friends to lovers trope!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

The Last Rose

About the Book:

Title: The Last Rose
Series: Sisters Ever After #4
Author: Leah Bypess
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Genre: Children’s Fiction

The fourth book in the Sisters Ever After series of fairy tale retellings, this is the wild story of Mera, the only one who can save her beautiful older sister when she is kidnapped by the Beast who viciously rules over their small village.

For as long as Mera can remember, she and her sister Darina have feared the Beast who lurks in the castle above their village. On countless nights they have locked themselves into their home while the Beast led his hounds on the Wild Hunt, preying on anything in his path.

Now Darina has been kidnapped by the Beast, and only Mera can save her. But she soon finds that in the Beast’s eerie, magic-haunted castle, nothing is quite what it seems—including her own sister. Here, Mera will discover the dark secrets that have bound her village to the Beast for so long.

But in order to set them all free, she will have to face the most dangerous secret of all: the truth about herself.

Book Review:

Oh my goodness! This book was fascinating, complicated, and sooo good! I’m a huge lover of fairytales, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a fairytale quite like this one. The characters are all turned on their heads, and the people we thought we knew turned out to be quite different.

Mera has never been the pretty one. She has stood in the shadow of her sister, Darina for years. But when Darina is kidnapped by the Beast, only Mera knows the truth. It should be her stuck in the dark castle. So Mera decides to rescue her sister only to find secrets she could have never imagined waiting for her.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales! And I love to read retellings of it, but this one was so interesting and different. Mera is a wonderful heroine full of fight and spunk. She is determined to not be controlled by anyone or anything. She’s had to be tougher than her sister, and she’s much more practical as well.

I’m honestly not sure how I felt about most of the other characters in this book. Everyone is full of greys even Darina, the Beauty in the story isn’t the traditional pure heart we hear about. I think it was fascinating to read a retelling where I had no idea what was going to happen next and honestly no idea what I wanted to happen next. Darina and the Beast aren’t the heroes they normally are.

I love the theme of sisterhood though. Mera is fiercely loyal and willing to do everything for her sister. I wish that the idea of love would have been defined a little differently. Love is not a feeling, but it is instead an action. But I do agree that feelings change. However, love should not.

This is a clean read with some creepier moments. For example, Mera gets locked up by the Beast. And there are moments where parents can talk about manipulation since the Beast is not portrayed as the hero in this story. There’s some Stockholm Syndrome vibes going on.

This was an incredibly rich story! There is so much in it, and I think middle grade readers will love it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Highlights:

Sisterhood!

Strong female heroines!

Wonderful world building!

Couldn’t put it down!

Twists and turns all the way!

Conventional family values!

It’s Always Sonny

About the Book:

Title: It’s Always Sonny
Series: Sweet as Sugar Maple #3
Author: Kate Watson
Release Date: March 21st, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Sunshine always melts ice eventually. And I’m starting to feel the burn.

People may call me an “overachieving ice queen,” but I would do anything for the people I love.

So when my friends ask me to host an event at their famous farm, I’m more than happy to help…until I discover I’ve been set up.

The “event” is actually a reunion for my ex’s family.

I pushed away Sonny Luciano years ago when my parents gave me the cruelest possible ultimatum. I told him it was so he could pursue his NFL dreams, but I was terrified that he’d eventually learn what my parents learned: I’m unlovable.

But Sonny doesn’t act like I’m unlovable. He acts thrilled to be with me. And the way he lights up when he sees me with his loud, loving family eclipses the sun.

Sonny has grown in all the right ways, and our connection is electric enough to make me forget why I pushed him away in the first place.

But when we get stuck alone in a tent during a freak storm, I have to decide if I’m going to let him melt my heart or if I’ll freeze him out forever.

It’s Always Sonny is a laugh-out-loud, dual POV, closed door romantic comedy full of delicious chemistry, banter, healing, and heart, but with no explicit scenes or cursing. Books in the Sweet as Sugar Maple series can be enjoyed in any order.

Content Warning: While this is a lighthearted romcom, it contains contains themes of infertility, health disorders (vasovagal syncope), emotional abuse, perfectionism, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Book Review:

This was such a fun read! I was soaring through it, and I love how real and flawed Kate Watson’s characters always are.

Parker was such a fun character! I feel like I was able to relate to her pain and feel for her as she battled her own insecurities. She had been through so much with her parents, and she was still struggling. I loved watching her open herself up to Sonny and his family. And it was sweet to see the Janes again. I think this book does a great job of preserving the timelines of the story. So, it does feel like the Janes have grown a lot already through Jane and Millie’s books.

Sonny was such a sweetheart! He was really trying to grow for Parker, and his own journey of learning how to say no was so fun to read about him. His family was crazy, and I loved their chaotic, loving energy.

This book is a romcom that deals with some harder topics, but it always stays clean and positive. Parker has to work through her pain about her parent’s harshness and judgment, but Sonny and her friends are always there for her. This is an amazing romcom that I would recommend to anyone who loves reverse grumpy sunshines!

Highlights:

🧊reverse grumpy sunshine

☀️character growth

🧊meddling family

☀️sports romance

🧊second chance romance

☀️female friendships

🧊closed door romcom

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Catch a Wave

About the Book:

Title: Catch a Wave
Series: Love Tippin’ #3
Author: Savannah Scott
Release Date: March 15th, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

id you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him?

That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I’ll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world.

And, as it happens, Bodhi felt the same tug—this irresistible attraction that drew us to one another.
We became known as surfing’s “it couple.” Our love was more famous than either of us.
Until life threw us for a loop and tore what we had apart.

Now, two years after our breakup, I find myself standing on my brother’s front porch, ready to beg my only sibling for a place to crash.
Only, the man who answers the door isn’t my brother.
It’s my brother’s best friend—also known as my ex-boyfriend, Bodhi Merrick.

Now we’re living in the same house on Marbella Island.
Bodhi seems to have moved on.
My heart will always be his.

How am I supposed to heal from the biggest tragedy of my life when he’s walking around in board shorts with his wavy hair falling across his forehead, and calling me the nickname he gave me years ago? Maybe I don’t want to get over him. The question is: After all we’ve been through, can we give our relationship a second chance?

Book Review:

I loved this book! There was so much heart in it, and Bohdi and Kalaine’s characters felt real to me.

I really liked Bohdi’s honesty in his life. It was interesting to see how he had changed after his accident. In some ways for the better and in some ways for the worst. He was still healing, and he was working through how to love Kalaine. He was such a sweetheart with her because even though he wanted a relationship, he chose to wait for what she wanted. But I really liked how they pushed each other to be better even if it was uncomfortable.

Kalaine was so fun to me! It was interesting to see her free spirit in the past and present. But she was also healing from her own accident. It was cool to see her move forward with Bohdi’s help.

The storyline in this one is super sweet. It’s still a closed door romcom, but there’s a lot of depth because Bohdi and Kalaine are working through their own trauma from the accident. While Kalaine never is clinically depressed, Bohdi mentions being depressed after his accident and going into a downward spiral. This is all past tense and mentioned during the end of the story. But it’s still fun with all the romcom vibes. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who’s longing for a summer and looking for a beach read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

A Groom of One’s Own

About the Book:

Title: A Groom of One’s Own
Series: Appies Hockey Romance #1
Author: Emma St. Clair
Release Date: March 1st, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He always dreamed of getting married–but for love, not to avoid deportation.

Eli Hopkins has it all–almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he’s missing is someone to share it all with.

Oh–and correctly filed visa paperwork.

Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything.

Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days.

And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He’d like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes.

Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only …

Book Review:

This book was completely adorable! I had been waiting to read it for a while, and it did not disappoint.

I loved Eli from the beginning. He’s just the sweetest cinnamon roll and ray of sunshine. His journey from only liking Bailey and then falling in love with her worked so well for his character. It was a little fast, but it made sense for his romantic self. I loved how kind he always was, but his little protective streak made him that much more adorable. His struggles with being himself around Bailey felt very real, and I loved seeing him learn that he would never be “too much” with the right person.

Bailey was definitely relatable! She was much more quiet compared to Eli, but she still had a streak of mischief and also romance. Her journey of being adopted by all the Appies and Eli’s family was too cute! The found family was adorable, and I loved how she grew in her trust of Eli and opened herself up to new experiences.

The story in this one is delightful! We get to see the found family trope in various ways. The romance was super sweet, and it was such a non stressful read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Rent Yourself an Elf

About the Book:

Title: Rent Yourself an Elf
Author: Savannah Scott
Release Date: December 15th, 2023
Genre: Romantic Comedy

She’s not feeling the holiday spirit. Maybe all she needs is to rent herself an elf.

It’s Christmas, and I should be full of cheer, but I’m having a hard time mustering the holiday spirit. That was always Grams’ role. She loved Christmas so much she talked my parents into naming me Noelle. Yeah, Noelle Furst. Picture the boys in elementary school having a heyday with my name. But I didn’t care. I knew Gram picked it for me, and I wore it proudly.

When Grams passed two years ago, she left me this house. I’m a lot of things, but a handywoman isn’t one of them. And there’s a ton of work to be done.

My big plan? Ignore Christmas this year. In only one month I can move into a new year and put my painful memories back in a box along with all the decorations. But my friends have other ideas.

When I open my front door and look up, there’s a very muscular, very not-an-elf looking man in a Santa hat smiling a stocking-curling smile at me. He’s holding a toolbox.
He says, “Hi, I’m your elf,” and with those four short words, I’m rethinking my whole stance on this holiday.

Book Review:

I loved this novella! It was adorable and the perfect pick up read after finals!

I thought Liam and Noelle were adorable together, and I feel like I actually connected with both of them. I think it’s harder to actually understand some characters since novellas are so short, but I loved Liam and Noelle from the start. This was such a cute concept, and the story just flew by.

This was a super fun read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a little Christmas cheer!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.